Station hand guilty of manslaughter

The panel accepted a claim of diminished responsibility after the court heard evidence from psychiatrists about Wilson's bipolar disorder.

Justice Jim Henry convicted and sentenced Wilson to eight years jail. He'll be eligible for release next March.

Wilson was working as a station hand and carer for 88-year-old David Thornton when he killed him using an axe and a gun at a property near Mount Carbine in March 2010.

Justice Henry said despite Mr Thornton being a difficult man, Wilson had become close to him as his carer and treated him tenderly with an almost surprising level of care, given the grim context in which he was delivering it.

He said Wilson's failure to cope was heightened by him not taking his medication regularly.

His lawyer had claimed 'diminished responsibility' and the jury took just over two hours to reach its verdict.

Justice Henry said it was likely Wilson could be managed in the community, acknowledging the support of his wife, June Wilson, who he said had been 'within a whisker of acting' to remove Wilson from his work at the station after noticing mood changes prior to the killing.

Outside the court Mrs Wilson said it was a huge relief for her and her husband.

Robert John Wilson's wife, June Wilson (left) leaves court after a jury found Wilson not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
(Kirsty Nancarrow - ABC)